montpelier Articles

Things to Do, Travel Tips, & Advice

Vermont is just one of those places where nearly everything is photo-worthy. After a few days, it's not as astonishing when you round a bend and discover yet another great view. Towns are quaint and charming, the houses and shops are rustic and appealing (or refined and appealing), and between towns you have miles of rolling countryside, farmland, forests, cows. Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the country, but it's big on scenery. Even a simple walk down the street will present you with several of the nicest photo opportunities Montpelier has to offer.

Here are a few ideas to get you started, but keep your camera with you at all times to capture the best of scenic Montpelier.

Part of the fun of exploring a new place is learning the local lingo. Montpelier, and by extension, Vermont, has its own dialect, which is sometimes puzzling to outsiders. With the influx of new residents from other states, the formerly distinct Vermont speech patterns, and even Montpelier slang, have been somewhat disrupted. Although similarities exist, Vermont speech is still different, sometimes noticeably, from the rest of New England.

Older, lifelong residents have more pronounced Vermont speech patterns. "A" and "e" sounds are broader, sounding something like the Canadian pronunciation. The "r" at the end of a word is frequently lost (technically called dropping the post-vocalic "r"). For example, you might hear words like "paper" and "dollar" spoken as "pay-pah," and "dah-lah." You may even hear an "r" sound added to the end of words like idea, which becomes "idear." And on occasion, you may hear an older guy pronounce an "i" sound like "oy," or "ow" sound like "ayow." "Nine" becomes "noyne," "guy" becomes "goy," "cow" might sound like "cayow."

In addition to the peculiarities of Vermont dialect, Montpelier lingo has its own. You too can talk like a local using this handy abridged dictionary of Montpelier slang. OK, maybe not exactly like a local, but at least you'll understand what they mean.

Montpelier, Vermont isn't what you'd call a major cultural center. Not much goes on here, and we like it that way. If we wanted skyscrapers, we would have built them. And as for adventure activity in Montpelier, well, you don't go to Montpelier for crazy excitement. You come here for the nature, the slow pace, the country hospitality and the atmosphere of nostalgia. We understand this, and have lots of it here for you to share.

Yes, Vermont isn't for everybody. You can only look at the Green Mountains for so long before you start bugging out a bit. Vermont is sort of like Colorado, in a cold, mountainous, isolated way. Some say it even looks a bit like the scenery in the movie "The Shining." Not much good will come of it should you succumb to cabin fever and take a hatchet to your family. You won't even get a movie out of it. Every producer is going to look at it and say, "They made this movie already."

However, I've racked my brain and scoured the land and come up with several Montpelier travel adventures and outdoor activities. So if you're traveling through Vermont and looking for an adventure activity in Montpelier, check these options out:

A great place for a family adventure, Montpelier, Vermont is a small, seemingly old-fashioned city with many hidden treasures. There's something for everyone in this capital city, from historic sites to fantastic restaurants. Traveling to Montpelier with teens is an especially worthy endeavor, as the city features lodging, dining and activities that those aged 13 to 19 are old enough to appreciate.

For a nearly perfect day, start with this list of things to do. It's Montpelier with teens made easy!

Montpelier, Vermont may be the smallest state capital in the United States, but this vibrant town is a great family vacation destination. Montpelier offers kids a vacation filled with days of adventure, and mom and dad appreciate the great accommodations and places to dine. Tweens love touring the capitol, visiting the sugarhouses, and attending the free concerts in the park. Make sure you bring your cameras to capture all the fun-filled memories from your trip to Montpelier with your tweens.